'Free' Cochlear Implant Surgery Performed in Agartala's GB Hospital Enables 3-Year-Old to Hear at Last

Agartala, March 12, 2020:

Pushpita Paul, a 3 year old toddler could not hear her mother calling. She was not even able to react to the noises - sudden closure of door,s dropping of utensil or the soothing melody of birds. The child hailing from remote Paharmura under Khowai district was suffering from a serious cochlear disease. For her, everything was silent, at least, until Wednesday, when doctors performed a Cochlear Implant Surgery on her, and that too, free of cost.

Thanks to the new ADIP scheme, she is now able to hear anything and everything. For the first time in the history of Tripura, a cochlear implant surgery had been performed here at the GBP hospital in Agartala that will empower Pushpita to lead a normal life from now onwards. The critical operation had been conducted free of cost under the centrally funded scheme.

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Pushpita’s father Pankaj Paul said, “Since Pushpita was one and half years old, we noticed that she could not react as per the sounds. We waited for few months and started consulting with doctors. Finally, we were informed that an implant surgery could only help her to hear normally. But, then our financial situation was not that strong that we could have afforded the surgery." Meanwhile, Pankaj’s wife who had been spotted busy with Pushpita today said that she was very happy that her girl could react like other children.

The toddler had been operated by three doctors under the supervision of Dr. Amitabha Roy Chowdhury. Dr. Biplab Debnath, a key member of the doctor’s team said, the initiative of the government will brought smiles to many faces. He also urged people to come forward and take advantage of the scheme launched by the government.

Secretary to the Health Department Dr. Debasish Basu said, the operation has been performed completely on the funds of Centre and the state government. Sources said that this operation costs about 10 to 12 lakhs if performed privately, and the implants used in the operation costs Rs 6 to 9 lakh.

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